Doctor Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch in a new twist on the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Scott Derrickson, isn’t your usual superhero movie. Sure, there are the typical action scenes and explosions, but the superpowers here are more about brains than brawn. The story follows Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), a world-class surgeon with a pretty sizable ego and swanky home complete with a packed trophy case to prove it. He also has a fast car, and when a car accident mangles his hands, his life comes crashing down.

Lost and in search of healing, he turns to Eastern medicine. But he gets more than he bargained for when he discovers the mystic arts and finds himself in the middle of a centuries-long war between our dimension and other dimensions. While the intricacies of the mystical world can be confusing at times, our introduction to this side of the Marvel Universe makes for a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience, thanks to dazzling 3-D visual effects. While the plot follows the usual superhero origin-story arc, there’s enough variety to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. And even the final conflict is resolved in a fresh way. In 3-D, in select theaters.